[Being a good and happy doctor at the same time? This is how it's done].
Over the past decade, discussions surrounding the medical profession have shifted from focusing on what makes a 'good' doctor to prioritizing the happiness and well-being of physicians. In discussions, being good and being happy are increasingly presented as opposites. Excellence seems to become a forbidden word, instead we focus on physicians being well. I argue that such polarization is both misguiding and unjustified. It distracts from what the conversation should be about: the loss of medicine as a relational service where the doctor-patient relationship is at the center. This does not negate the fact that good performance and professional happiness are under pressure - as I acknowledge in this article. The solution may be as simple as it is radical: reunite 'good' and 'happy' in conversations, in organizations, and in healthcare policies. Research shows that both are necessary to keep the profession sustainably vital and to continue providing high-quality patientcare.
Authors
- Kiki M. J. M. H. Lombarts (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6167-0620)
Institutions
- Amsterdam Neuroscience (NL)
- Phoenix Contact (United States) (US)
- Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam (NL)
Publication Details
- Journal
- PubMed
- Published
- 2025-04-29
- Primary Topic
- Primary Care and Health Outcomes
- Type
- article